About GVSU 2020
Avg. Class Size: 26
1,762 faculty members
2,056 support staff members
93% of regular faculty members have earned their doctorate or other terminal degree
95% of recent graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees.
nickname:
the lakers
first sport:
crew (1964)
mascot:
Louie the Laker
pioneer class:
226 students (1963)
presidents' ball:
attendance 4,000
90% of students received at least one type of financial aid – a total of more than $285 million, with more than $90 million in the form of scholarships and grant assistance.
782 students studied abroad in the 2017-2018 academic year
7th in a national ranking of study abroad participation by the IIE
63 service and advocacy organizations
31 fraternities and sororities
50 states called home by alumni
13 areas worldwide host alumni clubs
93,290 alumni in Michigan
87% of first-year students live on campus
11 dining locations
5 styles of living centers to choose from
20 varsity sports (11 women's, 9 men's)
50 club sports
23 NCAA Division II National Championships
18 straight years earning first or second in the Directors' Cup
Tuition
| Undergraduate Level | Michigan Resident | Non-Michigan Resident |
|---|---|---|
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Lower Division (0–54 credits earned) |
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Upper Division (55+ credits earned) |
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| Graduate Level |
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| View graduate tuition rates and other estimated yearly expenses. |
A per credit hour or per course surcharge will be assessed for certain classes to offset higher costs.
- Students classified as undergraduates registering for masters and doctorate courses pay undergraduate tuition rates.
- Students are classified as upper division upon earning their 55th semester credit.
- Students classified as graduates pay their graduate program tuition rate for all courses taken.
Academic Calendar
Two 16 week semesters
Winter 2020 semester: January 6, 2020–April 25, 2020
Fall 2020 semester: August 31, 2020–December 19, 2020
Two 6 week sessions/one 12 week session
Spring 2020 session: May 4, 2020–June 17, 2020
Summer 2020 session: June 22, 2020–August 4, 2020
Spring/Summer 2020 session: May 4, 2020–August 4, 2020
Grand Valley was named one of America's 100 best college buys for the 24th year in a row.
- $285 million in financial aid awarded
- $90 million of that aid was in the form of scholarships and grant assistance
- 8,412 students participating in internships, co-ops, practica, and student teaching
- 11,700+ employment and internship opportunities listed with GVSU Career Center
- 1,297 employers participated in events and on-campus interviews
- Middle 50% of Fall 2019 entering class earned high school GPAs from 3.4–3.9, ACT scores of 21–27 and SAT scores of 1050 to 1240
Read a list of recent awards and recognitions.
Pass Rates of Graduates on Licensure and Certification Exams
| Professional Licensure Exam | GVSU Grad Pass Rate | National Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Education (Undergraduate) | 100% | N/A |
| Engineering (Undergraduate) | 100% | N/A |
| Nursing (Doctoral - Child/Adolescent NP, Adult/Older Adult NP) | 100% | N/A |
| Occupational Therapy | 100% | N/A |
| Physician Assistant | 100% | 96% |
| Speech and Language Pathology | 100% | N/A |
| Police Academy | 100% | N/A |
| Enterprise Resource Planning | 97% | N/A |
| Athletic Training | 96% | 83.6% |
| Physical Therapy | 97% | 92.3% |
| Recreational Therapy | 100% | 86.5% |
Locations
Allendale (map)
Allendale, Michigan, is home to Grand Valley's main campus, established in 1960, situated on 1,322 acres 12 miles west of Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids (map)
The 65-acre Robert C. Pew Campus in the heart of Grand Rapids is comprised of multiple buildings along the west bank of the Grand River that serves business, education, engineering, and other majors and is home to The Graduate School.
Grand Rapids (map)
The 14.5-acre Health Campus anchors the east end of Grand Rapids' Medical Mile. It is comprised of two buildings with a third building set to open in 2021.
Meijer Campus in Holland (map)
The Meijer Campus was dedicated in August 1998 and offers evening, accelerated, hybrid, and online coursework to area students.
Detroit Center (map)
The Detroit Center is home to university business in southeast Michigan and includes space for many activities, including those of the GVSU Charter Schools Office.
Muskegon Regional Center (map)
The Stevenson Center within Muskegon Community College was constructed in 1995 offering the university new opportunities in the shoreline community.
Traverse City Regional Center (map)
Grand Valley was established in 1995 as a charter member of the Northwestern Michigan College's University Center.
Sustainability
250+ sustainability-related courses offered at Grand Valley
One of the greenest universities in the nation, according to the Sierra Club
Grand Valley's Sustainable Agriculture Project received the Innovative Project Award by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
25 LEED-certified projects completed at Grand Valley
Gold status for the seventh year in a row, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
2.8 million pounds of paper towels, disposable dinnerware, napkins, and food waste composted by Grand Valley in fiscal year 2018.
More than 60 percent of Grand Valley's waste stream is diverted, including compost, e-waste, light bulbs, batteries, paper, cardboard, and metal.
$2.2 million saved annually on Grand Valley's energy bill through a combination of energy conservation efforts and LEED construction projects.
Economic Impact
$849 million in total estimated impact of faculty, staff, and students in Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties during 2016-2017
$202.8 million total estimated student expenditures in the area
11,970 total estimated employment attributed to GVSU in the area
Endowment and Funding
$351 million general fund budget
$275 million in tuition
$72 million in state appropriations
$133 million endowment
$23.8 million in private funding (gifts and overall pledges)
52% of faculty and staff gave (FY18)
Administration
Established: Grand Valley State University was chartered by the Michigan legislature in 1960 in response to the need for a public, four-year college in the state's second largest metropolitan region.
Mission: Educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies. The university contributes to the enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service.
Learn more on our strategic positioning page.
President: Philomena V. Mantella
Board of Trustees:
- Victor M. Cardenas
- Randall S. Damstra
- Elizabeth C. Emmitt
- Susan M. Jandernoa
- Mary L. Kramer (chair)
- John G. Russell
- Megan S. Sall (vice chair)
- Kate Pew Wolters
- Philomena V. Mantella (ex officio)
- Donna K. Brooks (honorary life member)
- Dorothy A. Johnson (honorary life member)
- John C. Kennedy (honorary life member)
Accreditation: Accreditation: Grand Valley is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
For More Information
Download a raw set of GVSU statistics by visiting the Institutional Analysis website.